238 



Even at the present time they are grown in 

 many gardens in the country, merely for the 

 singularity of their appearance, varying very 

 much in size and shape as well as colour; 

 some being of a bright yellow, and others of 

 a fine red. It appears, by the Hortus Kewen- 

 sis, to have been cultivated in England as 

 early as the year 1596; but I conclude it was 

 introduced several years previous to that date, 

 as Gerard mentions it in the early part of his 

 voluminous work, as growing in his garden. 

 This author calls it pomum amoris; and says, 

 " apples of love do growe in Spaine, Italic, 

 and such hot countries, from whence myself 

 have received seedes for my garden, where 

 they do increase and prosper/' 



" There hath happened unto my handes 

 another sort/' says this author, " agreeing 

 very notablie with the former, onely the fruite 

 heereof was yellow of colour/' (Now this 

 work, which was published in 1597, must 

 have taken some years in compiling and 

 printing, &c. as it contains several thousand 

 wood plates.) 



Miller says, in the 6th edition of his Gar- 

 dener's Dictionary, "the Italians and Spa- 

 niards eat love-apples as we do cucumbers, 

 with pepper, oil, and salt, as well as for 



sauces." 



